State, teachers The state remains committed to continuing negotiations with teachers to avert a strike; however Gov. Ben Cayetano said today the two sides remain "very, very far apart."
far apart
Disagreement over pay
By Crystal Kua
raises has stalled labor
negotiations; April 5 is
set as the strike date
and Rod Antone
Star-BulletinThe morning after teachers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike on April 5, the governor maintained his position that the salary demands of the teachers' union is more than the state can afford.
"The fact that there's been a strike vote will not change the state's fiscal ability to pay," said Cayetano.
While the state has offered new proposals along the way, the union hasn't budged, he said. The governor said he is waiting for a formal response from the HSTA to the state's latest proposal.
"Before anyone takes any actions that will jeopardize the education of a quarter of a million of our schoolchildren and cause hardships to 12,000 educators, we really must make every effort we can to reach common ground," he said.
Cayetano said the ad he placed in yesterday's Honolulu dailies was meant to educate the public and he didn't necessarily think that it would change the minds of teachers who already had decided to vote in favor of a strike.
The final tally from last night's vote was 10,875 in favor of a strike and 102 against.
"It means that teachers are angry and they're willing to do everything to make sure our public schools improve," said Hawaii State Teachers Association spokeswoman Danielle Lum. "And if going on strike is what they have to do, then going on strike is what they will do."
Evidence of teachers' dissatisfaction with the governor could be seen throughout the crowd of about 6,800 Oahu teachers who packed the Blaisdell arena to vote.
Money is at the root of the stalled labor talks and Oahu teachers who gathered for the vote said they are disappointed with the state's latest salary proposal. A sign showed a picture of professional wrestler "The Rock" next to a drawing of Cayetano with caption: "The Rock Head."
Another sign displayed "Ben's report card" with grades of F for math, comprehension, listening and social studies.
HSTA President Karen Ginoza said the signal from teachers is clear. "Our teachers are united in the fight for a fair settlement. Our teachers are united in ensuring that our children have a quality education."
"It's the same thing, the numbers are just switched around," said Joy Otsuka of Ewa Elementary. "It doesn't address those experienced teachers who aren't being fairly compensated."
The latest state proposal to the HSTA calls for an average 12 percent raise in the last two years of a four-year deal. The proposal would also increase beginning teachers pay by 20 percent to $35,070 from $29,204.
Another Ewa Elementary teacher, Kris Kurokawa, said, "What we want are the increments, and they're not addressing that at all."
HSTA is demanding across-the-board raises and step increases for a total of 22 percent over four years.
The union's position is that competitive higher salaries are necessary to attract qualified teachers to Hawaii schools and keep them there during a nationwide teachers shortage.
The state says it can't afford a 22 percent raise and if the teachers and other public worker unions get what they're demanding, the half-billion dollars in raises could break the bank.
The union agrees starting teacher pay should be hiked, but not at the expense of other teachers. HSTA leaders also say that the state's latest proposal is a shell game with pay increase percentages being moved around within the same $67 million previously offered.
Both sides are also waging a public relations war.
Gov. Ben Cayetano took out a full page ad yesterday in Honolulu's two daily newspapers, saying the state's offer is a fair and good offer.
The ad also detailed the latest offer made to the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly. Talks with the faculty union are also at a stalemate.
The governor last week also relayed a similar message in a four-page brochure. The HSTA also has taken to the airwaves and to print ads to argue its cause.